Margaret P. Grafeld Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 22 May 2009
Message Text
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 01 BREMEN 00262 01 OF 02 071143Z
ACTION EUR- 12
INFO OCT-01 ISO-OO ERDA-07 AID-05 CEA-01 CIAE-00
COME-OO EPG-02 DODE-OO EB-07 FEAE-00 FPC-01 H-02
INR-07 INT-05 L-03 NSAE-00 NSC-05 OMB-01 PM-04
USIA-15 OES-07 SP-02 SS-15 STR-04 TRSE-00 ACDA-10
ARA-14 DHA-02 CG-00 DOTE-OO MC-02 PRS-01 PA-02
AGRE-00 NRC-07 /144W
071248Z 096376/46
R 0709 15Z JUN 77
FM AMCONSUL BREMEN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 2294
INFO AMEMBASSY BONN
US MISSION BERLIN 479
AMCONSUL DUESSELDORF
AMCONSUL FRANKFURT
AMCONSUL HAMBURG
AMCONSUL MUNICH
AMCONSUL STUTTGART
UNCLAS SECTION 1 OF 2 BREMEN 262
E.O. 11652: N/A
TAGS: PFOR, GW, US
SUBJECT: KOSCHNICK DISCUSSES US-GERMAN RELATIONS
1 . SUMMARY: IN A SPEECH BEFORE THE MUNICH CHAPTER OF THE
AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, HANS KOSCHNICK, MAYOR OF BREMEN
AND NATIONAL VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE SPD, SKETCHED THE PRESENT
STATE OF US-GERMAN RELATIONS, TOUCHING ON SUCH CONTROVERSIAL
ISSUES AS THE FRG-BRAZIL ATOMIC POWER DEAL, NATO STANDARD-
IZATION, PROBLEMS OF THE WORLD ECONOMY AND INTERNATIONAL
TRADE, NORTH-SOUTH DIALOGUE, AND THE TREATMENT OF THE HUMAN
RIGHTS ISSUE. HE CONCLUDED THAT DESPITE TEMPORARY DISCORDS,
THE FOUNDATION OF US-GERMAN RELATIONS REMAINS STRONG.
END SUMMARY.
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2. THE LAND BREMEN PRESS OFFICE MADE AVAILABLE TO US COPIES
OF BUERGERMEISTER HANS KOSCHNICK'S ADDRESS, DELIVERED AT A
MONTHLY LUNCHEON OF THE MUNICH BRANCH OF THE AMERICAN CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE IN GERMANY ON MAY 31. THE TOPIC OF THE TALK WAS
"GERMAN-AMERICAN RELATIONS— TENSIONS OR COOPERATION?" FOLLOWING
IS A BRIEF SUMMARY OF HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE SPEECH, COPIES OF WHICH
ARE BEING MAILED THROUGH THE POUCH.
Margaret P. Grafeld Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 22 May 2009
Margaret P. Grafeld Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 22 May 2009
3. KOSCHNICK ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE FORMULATION OF THE TOPIC
REFLECTS THE FACT THAT TO AN INCREASING DEGREE POINTS OF FRICTION
HAVE ARISEN RECENTLY IN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE UNITED
STATES AND THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC. IN PART SUCH FRICTIONS WERE A
FUNCTION OF EUROPEAN-AMERICAN RELATIONS, IN PART THEY WERE AN
OUTGROWTH OF BILATERAL PROBLEMS AND OF DISPARATE RESPONSES OF
THE UNITED STATES AND THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC TO WORLD-POLITICAL
PROBLEMS. HOWEVER, KOSCHNICK DECLARED, HE WELCOMED THE FACT
THAT AT THE RECENT SUMMIT MEETING THE US PRESIDENT AND THE
CHANCELLOR NOT ONLY REACHED A CLOSER UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR
RESPECTIVE POSITIONS, BUT ESTABLISHED BETWEEN THEM AN ATMOSPHERE
THAT IS NOT ONLY DESIRABLE BUT NECESSARY BETWEEN PARTNERS.
4. MOVING ON TO SPECIFIC ISSUES, KOSCHNICK DISCUSSED THE
PRESENT STATE OF THE WORLD ECONOMY, WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO
THE RELATIVELY HIGH LEVEL OF UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE INDUSTRIALIZED
COUNTRIES. HE COVERED THE PROBLEMS OF ENERGY IN GENERAL AND THE
RISKS OF ATOMIC ENERGY, BOTH FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND
PROLIFERATION STANDPOINTS. HE WELCOMED THE COMMITMENT OF THE
PARTICPANTS AT THE LONDON SUMMIT TO ADHERE TO THE PRINCIPLES OF
FREE TRADE. HE REFERRED TO THE COMMITMENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC
TO AIM AT A 5 PERCENT GROWTH LEVEL THIS YEAR AND SAID THAT, IN
THE EVENT THAT THIS LEVEL CANNOT BE ACHIEVED, FURTHER STIMULATIVE
MEASURES BY THE GOVERNMENT WILL BECOME NECESSARY. HE CONCEDED.
HOWEVER, THAT THERE APPEARS TO BE NO GENERAL PRESCRIPTION FOR A
REDUCTION IN THE LEVEL OF UNEMPLOYMENT. CAUTIONING AGAINST ANY
STEPS THAT MIGHT REKINDLE INFLATIONARY PRESSURES, KOSCHNICK SAID
THAT THE CAPACITIES OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC TO STIMULATE FURTHER
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GROWTH IN ITS IMPORTS WERE LIMITED.
5. COMMENTING ON THE NORTH-SOUTH DIALOGUE, KOSCHNICK PLEADED
FOR A MORE GENEROUS ATTITUDE ON THE PART OF THE DEVELOPED WORLD
VIS-A-VIS THE DEMANDS OF THE THIRD WORLD. HE SAID THAT HE
CONSIDERED IT UNWISE TO TRY TO KEEP THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DANGLING MUCH LONGER AND TO PUT THEM OFF WITH PROMISES OF A
BETTER TOMORROW. HE CAUTIONED. HOWEVER, THAT THE CAPACITY FOR
COMPROMISE AND CONCESSION BY THE US AND THE FRG VIS-A-VIS THE
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES IS NOT UNLIMITED, BECAUSE OF THEIR OWN
ECONOMIC PROBLEMS. KOSCHNICK EXPRESSED HIMSELF FIRMLY AGAINST
INDEXATION OF RAW MATERIAL PRICES AND CALLED ATTENTION TO THE
DIFFICULTIES OF ESTABLISHING A GENERAL COMMODITIES FUND. HE
SPOKE IN FAVOR OF THE STABILIZATION OF EXPORT RECEIPTS
BY THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES FOR THEIR RAW MATERIALS. HE ALSO
SAID THAT THE INDUSTTAI JZF.D WORLD MUST BE PREPARED SERIOUSLY
TO CONSIDER DEMANDS FOR A COMPREHENSIVE DEBT MORATORIUM.
Margaret P. Grafeld Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 22 May 2009
Margaret P. Grafeld Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 22 May 2009
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PAGE 01 BREMEN 00262 02 OF 02 071 156Z
ACTION EUR- 12
INFO OCT-01 ISO-OO ERDA-07 AID-05 CEA-01 CIAE-00
COME-OO EPG-02 DODE-OO EB-07 FEAE-00 FPC-01 H-02
INR-07 INT-05 L-03 NSAE-00 NSC-05 OMB-01 PM-04
USIA-15 OES-07 SP-02 SS-15 STR-04 TRSE-00 ACDA-10
ARA-14 DHA-02 CG-00 DOTE-OO MC-02 PRS-01 PA-02
AGRE-00 NRC-07 /144W
071246Z 096468/46
R 0709 15Z JUN 77
FM AMCONSUL BREMEN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 2295
INFO AMEMBASSY BONN
US MISSION BERLIN 480
AMCONSUL DUESSELDORF
AMCONSUL FRANKFURT
AMCONSUL HAMBURG
AMCONSUL MUNICH
AMCONSUL STUTTGART
UNCLAS SECTION 2 OF 2 BREMEN 262
6. KOSCHNICK THEN BRIEFLY TOUCHED ON THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED
WITH THE PEACEFUL UTILIZATION OF ATOMIC ENERGY, I.E.,
ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS AND FEARS OF WEAPONS PROLIFERATION.
REFERRING TO THE FRG'S CONTRACT WITH BRAZIL, KOSCHNICK ALLEGED
THAT THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES WERE CONCERNED LEST THE INDUSTRIALIZED
COUNTRIES, IN A KIND OF TECHNOLOGICAL NEOCOLONIALISM, DENY TO
THEM THE MEANS FOR ECONOMIC EXPLOITATION OF ATOMIC ENERGY.
WITHOUT WISHING TO IDENTIFY HIMSELF WITH THIS VIEWPOINT OF THE
THIRD WORLD, KOSCHNICK SAID THAT THE ISSUE WAS NOT THE LOSS OF
FACE BY THE FRG VIS-A-VIS BRAZIL; THE RELIABILITY AND GOOD FAITH
OF THE INDUSTRIALIZED NATIONS AT LARGE VIS-A-VIS THE THIRD WORLD
WERE AT STAKE. REFERRING TO THE US DECISION NOT TO PROMOTE THE
FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF THE FAST BREEDER REACTOR, KOSCHNICK SAID
THAT FOR DOMESTIC POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS A SIMILAR DECISION
BY THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC CANNOT BE ENTIRELY RULED OUT. HE
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EXPRESSED UNDERSTANDING FOR THE CONCERN OF THE US OVER THE
Margaret P. Grafeld Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 22 May 2009
Margaret P. Grafeld Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 22 May 2009
INCREASED RISKS OF PROLIFERATION STEMMING FROM A PLUTONIUM
ECONOMY.
7. KOSCHNICK WAS CAUSTICALLY CRITICAL OVER THE BEHAVIOR OF
SOME AMERICAN INDUSTRIAL INTERESTS WICH HAVE ASSERTEDLY BLOCKED
THE SALE OF THE VFW-614 AIRCRAFT TO THE US COAST GUARD, AS WELL
AS OVER THE REPORTEDLY UNFAIR COMPETITIVE TESTING OF THE GERMAN
LEOPARD AND AMERICAN AMX TANKS. HE CAUTIONED THAT THE GERMAN
PUBLIC AND BUNDESTAG WOULD NOT ACCEPT THIS FORM OF "BUY AMERICAN"
TACTICS. EVERYONE WHO IS FOR "FAIR PLAY" IN THE TRADE EXCHANGE
BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES SHOULD BE AWARE OF THIS. HE EXPRESSED
THE HOPE THAT IN THIS CONNECTION THE AMERICAN AWACS PROJECT
DOES NOT BECOME THE VICTIM.
8. KOSCHNICK MADE SOME CRITICAL OBSERVATIONS CONCERNING THE
RECENT FISHERIES AGREEMENT CONCLUDED BETWEEN THE US AND THE EC.
BUT CONCEDED THAT THE EUROPEANS HAVE NOT BEEN GUILTLESS IN THEIR
OWN PROTECTIONIST TRADE POLICIES, ESPECIALLY IN THE AREA OF
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS.
9. TURNING TO THE RECENT PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF HUMAN RIGHTS, IN
WHICH THERE WAS ALLEGEDLY A SERIOUS DIFFERENCE IN THE POSITIONS
OF THE US AND THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC, KOSCHNICK DISPUTED THAT
REALS DIFFERENCES EXISTED. WHILE ANALYZING THE MOTIVATIONS WHICH
PROMPTED THE NEW AMERICAN ADMINISTRATION TO UNFOLD ITS INITIATIVES
ON HUMAN RIGHTS, KOSCHNICK CAUTIONED AGAINST FORCING THE ISSUE TO
EXTREMES IN THE WEST'S RELATIONS WITH COMMUNIST-CONTROLLED STATES.
THE SOVIET UNION, HE ASSERTED, MAY REACT BY REVIVING THE COLD WAR,
IN WHICH CASE OTHERS (NOT SO MUCH THE SOVIETS) WILL BE THE REAL
VICTIMS AND SUFFERERS. HE MADE A PLEA NOT TO ENDANGER THE
ACHIEVEMENTS OF HELSINKI THROUGH PROPAGANDA SALLIES. "NONE OF UZCN
HE SAID, "WANTS A RETURN TO THE COLD WAR". AT THE SAME TIME,
HOWEVER, "WE ALL OBSERVE WITH CONCERN THE ATTEMPTS OF THE SOVIET
UNION TO CHANGE IN ITS FAVOR, THROUGH A FORCED PACE OF RZAMENT,
THE PREREQUISITES FOR A TRUE DETENTE". WHILE WORKING IN
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UNISON WITH THE UNITED STATES TOWARD THE GOAL OF DISARMAMENT AND
RELAXATION OF TENSIONS IN THE WORLD, KOSCHNICK SAID, EUROPE AND
ESPECIALLY THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC WILL HAVE TO MAKE THEIR FULL
CONTRIBUTION TO JOINT SECURITY. CONCLUDING, KOSCHNICK STATED THAT
GERMAN-AMERICAN RELATIONS TODAY ARE SO FIRM THAT EVEN DISCORDS
OVER SUCH ISSUES AS THE BRAZIL DEAL OR OVER DIFFICULTIES IN THE
STANDARDIZATION IN NATO WEAPONS SYSTEMS COULD NOT HAVE A
LINGERING ADVERSE EFFECT ON THESE RELATIONS. THERE IS NO REASON
FOR SERIOUS CONCERN.
10. COMMENT: NOT BEING A MEMBER OF THE BONN GOVERNMENT, KOSCHNICK
DELIVERED AN UNINHIBITED AND CANDID EVALUATION OF THE PRESENT
STATE OF GERMAN-US RELATIONS. HE COVERED VIRTUALLY EVERY ISSUE
Margaret P. Grafeld Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 22 May 2009
Margaret P. Grafeld Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 22 May 2009
THAT HAD BEEN THE SUBJECT OF RECENT CONTROVERSY BETWEEN THE TWO
GOVERNMENTS AND HE REFLECTED BONN'S CRITICISM OF US POSITIONS.
THE UPBEAT NOTE ON WHICH HE CONCLUDED HES SPEECH REFLECTS BOTH
THE CHANGED ATMOSPHERE THAT SET IN FOLLOWING THE PRESIDENT'S AND
THE CHANCELLOR'S MEETING AT THE LONDON SUMMIT AS WELL AS
KOSCHNICK S OWN CONVICTION OF THE BASIC SOLIDITY OF US FRG
BILATERAL RELATIONS. SCHIFFMAN
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Margaret P. Grafeld Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 22 May 2009
Margaret P. Grafeld Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 22 May 2009
Message Attributes
Automatic Decaptioning: X
Capture Date: 01 -Jan-1 994 12:00:00 am
Channel Indicators: n/a
Current Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Concepts: FOREIGN RELATIONS, NUCLEAR ENERGY, HUMAN RIGHTS, REPORTS, SPEECHES, PROGRAMS (PROJECTS)
Control Number: n/a
Copy: SINGLE
Sent Date: 07-Jun-1977 12:00:00 am
Decaption Date: 01 -Jan-1 960 12:00:00 am
Decaption Note:
Disposition Action: n/a
Disposition Approved on Date:
Disposition Case Number: n/a
Disposition Comment:
Disposition Date: 01 -Jan-1 960 12:00:00 am
Disposition Event:
Disposition History: n/a
Disposition Reason:
Disposition Remarks:
Document Number: 1977BREMEN00262
Document Source: CORE
Document Unique ID: 00
Drafter: n/a
Enclosure: n/a
Executive Order: N/A
Errors: N/A
Expiration:
Film Number: D770202-0579
Format: TEL
From: BREMEN
Handling Restrictions: n/a
Image Path:
ISecure: 1
Legacy Key: Iink1977/newtext/t19770685/aaaacvwy.tel
Line Count: 231
Litigation Code IDs:
Litigation Codes:
Litigation History:
Locator: TEXT ON-LINE, ON MICROFILM
Message ID: 5caabf83-c288-dd11-92da-001cc4696bcc
Office: ACTION EUR
Original Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Original Handling Restrictions: n/a
Original Previous Classification: n/a
Original Previous Handling Restrictions: n/a
Page Count: 5
Previous Channel Indicators: n/a
Previous Classification: n/a
Previous Handling Restrictions: n/a
Reference: n/a
Retention: 0
Review Action: RELEASED, APPROVED
Review Content Flags:
Review Date: 04-Nov-2004 12:00:00 am
Review Event:
Review Exemptions: n/a
Review Media Identifier:
Review Release Date: n/a
Review Release Event: n/a
Review Transfer Date:
Review Withdrawn Fields: n/a
SAS ID: 2254282
Secure: OPEN
Status: NATIVE
Subject: KOSCHNICK DISCUSSES US-GERMAN RELATIONS
TAGS: PFOR, ECON, GE, US, SPD, (KOSCHNICH, HANS)
To: STATE
Type: TE
vdkvgwkey : odbc://SAS/SAS.dbo.SAS_Docs/5caabf83-c288-dd1 1 -92da-001 cc4696bcc
Review Markings:
Margaret P. Grafeld
Declassified/Released
US Department of State
EO Systematic Review
22 May 2009
Markings: Margaret P. Grafeld Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 22 May 2009
Margaret P. Grafeld Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 22 May 2009